The Arab Baths
In the Islamic culture -and out of religious reasons- it is traditional to construct ‘public baths’. So it was, too, in Islamic Spain or “AL-ANDALUS ”, as it was called by the Arab peoples.
The Arabic term for ‘public bath’ is ‘HAMMAM’. The ‘hammam’ was both a public building and a meeting point for all social classes. At the time of the caliphs, there existed over 300 of those public baths -- which later fell into desuse on account of the Christian Reconquest.
The Arabic term for ‘public bath’ is ‘HAMMAM’. The ‘hammam’ was both a public building and a meeting point for all social classes. At the time of the caliphs, there existed over 300 of those public baths -- which later fell into desuse on account of the Christian Reconquest.
Traditionally, the design of the ‘hammam’ is as follows: patio (indoor courtyard), dressing room, cold room, warm room, and hot room. The last three rooms -called, respectively, “frigidarium”, “templarium” and “caldarium”, in Latin- in turn, are based on the Roman ‘thermae’ (‘public baths’ in Latin). Décor varies according to dynasty and period.
In our baths, you will feel taken back in time, joining in the splendour of that age: the perfect geometry of its mosaics, the pleasant fragrance of its rooms, the murmur of its trickling waters, its delicately carved arches, plinths, lattices, capitals, etc. Every single detail is aimed at making you feel immersed in the charm of those days in ‘Al-Andalus’.
In our baths, you will feel taken back in time, joining in the splendour of that age: the perfect geometry of its mosaics, the pleasant fragrance of its rooms, the murmur of its trickling waters, its delicately carved arches, plinths, lattices, capitals, etc. Every single detail is aimed at making you feel immersed in the charm of those days in ‘Al-Andalus’.
Once you have entered the baths, you must go into the dressing room and put on a swimming costume//pair of swimming trunks (either yours, or the one/s provided at Reception). It is compulsory to have a shower before going towards the area of the baths proper. No flip-flops//thongs are needed, as the floor is always aseptically clean.
It is advisable to commence your bath by getting, slowly, into any of the hot water pools first (whose waters are at about 40ºC / 104ºF ), and, afterwards, to get into the warm / cold water ones.
It is advisable to commence your bath by getting, slowly, into any of the hot water pools first (whose waters are at about 40ºC / 104ºF ), and, afterwards, to get into the warm / cold water ones.
And, of course, do not miss a relaxing massage given by our highly qualified team of masseurs and masseuses, using the oil essence/s of your choice.
